The best food storage containers you can buy

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The Insider Pick:

Food storage containers keep your food fresh and can handle the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher without staining, taking on odors, or experiencing damage. Our top pick, the Snapware 8-Cup Airtight Rectangle Food Storage Container, does all this and more, plus, it provides an airtight seal that snaps tight.

Developed in 1946 by Earl Tupper, Tupperware not only gave us an airtight way to keep food fresh, but it also introduced the direct marketing strategy to the post-World War II United States. The “Tupperware party” was a way for women to earn an income after much of the labor market closed to them as soldiers came back from war.

These days, you can still attend Tupperware parties, but they are nowhere near as popular as their 1950s and ‘60s heyday. And, for most of us, it’s more convenient to buy food storage containers from brands that make their wares available online or in brick-and-mortar stores.

When shopping for food storage, you still need to look past the marketing to find out what you are really paying for. For example, brands will advertise “X-piece sets.” You should know that X rarely refers to the number of containers you are getting. Instead, they also factor in the lids as separate pieces. So, a 42-piece set will have 21 container bases and 21 lids.

Food storage containers are generally made of glass, plastic, or stainless steel. Each material has its benefits, though we did not include any of the stainless steel options on our list because they are generally expensive, not as useful, and have bad reviews. Glass containers cost more than plastic, but they tend to hold up better in the microwave, don’t take on the characteristics of the food they hold, and some of them can even go in the oven.

Plastic still reigns supreme in this space mainly because of the affordable price, tight seals, and ability to handle being dropped. Though most containers are BPA-free and brands claim they are microwave safe, our research shows that microwaving plastic can lead to stains, odors, and damage to the Tupperware.

We closely examined the expert and consumer ratings and reviews of dozens of options while searching for the best Tupperware. The solutions we chose to include in our guide have demonstrated a long history of durability, strong seals, and ease of use.

The best food storage container overall

The Snapware Airtight Rectangle Food Storage Container comes with a BPA-free polypropylene container and lid, which measure 10.2 by 8.5 by 2.5 inches. The containers are designed to be freezer, top-rack dishwasher, and microwave safe. The lid features snaps on each side and a silicone seal for airtight, leak-proof storage. For an optimum seal, Snapware recommends removing the gasket and washing it before using your container.

The Snapware Airtight earned the best plastic Tupperware distinction from Cook’s Illustrated because it passed a submersion test after dishwashing, stacks easily, and is designed for quick heating or cooling. The Wirecutter found that Snapware's could handle dropping and did not retain food smells or stains. Reviewers also liked that Snapware backs their products with a lifetime warranty.

Around 71% of the buyers who reviewed the Snapware Airtight on Amazon gave it five stars. People appreciated that it’s big enough to hold a variety of items, including a package of bacon, and it snaps shut easily. The snaps make it clear that the container is sealed.

Buyers also noted that this model holds up well, even after repeated trips through the dishwasher. There was one complaint about difficulty getting the box to close and the hinges breaking.

The best glass food storage container

The GlassLock 14-Piece Oven-Safe Box Set with Lids comes with seven containers: one 1.6-cup round, one 3.1-cup round, two 1.5-cup square, one 3.3-cup square, and two 1.6-cup rectangular container. Note that the largest container holds less than a quart.

Each component is completely recyclable and BPA free. These containers are made of limestone, soda ash, silica and other natural compounds. The containers are also FDA-approved for use in the food industry and can be used in the oven, dishwasher, freezer, and microwave, though the lids should not be used in the microwave or oven.

The Spruce liked that you get an excellent value for your money with GlassLock's sets, and the lids are effective. The reviewer also noted that the containers stack well. The Wirecutter recommends a similar GlassLock set, but we chose not to include this set in our guide because of too many buyer complaints of glass shards breaking off the container. We didn’t see this issue with the 14-Piece Oven-Safe Box Set.

The GlassLock 14-Piece has received five-star ratings from 73% of the people who reviewed it on Amazon. Buyers were particularly impressed with the locking lids. The most helpful commenter noted that they had used several other containers previously, and this was the first set where the lids continued to lock after months of use.

Buyers also found that the seals are tight and leak-proof. The main complaint we found was that the containers are rather small, so pay special attention to the sizes listed above to make sure this set fits your needs.

The best bento box food storage container

“Bento” is Japanese for “convenient,” and bento boxes are generally single-serving meals that you can take with you on the go. They are basically healthy Lunchables that adults can eat without losing face. The EasyLunchboxes Bento Lunch Box Containers are all about convenience. They are stackable, portable, microwaveable, and freezable. However, they are not leak-proof so it’s best to avoid putting runny food or liquids in these containers.

The containers are made of polypropylene number 5 plastic and are free from phthalates, PVC, and BPA. The overall size of the lunch box is 9.4 by 6.1 by 2 inches with the largest compartment measuring 4.5 by 5 by 1.75 inches and fitting 2.5 cups of food. The smaller sections fit ¾ and ½ cups of food each.

A Merry Life likes the EasyLunchboxes containers because they are healthy, convenient, kid-friendly, and they help provide portion control for any meal. However, the containers are a bit tough to close and they're not completely spill-proof. That will be a deal breaker for some people.

This EasyLunchboxes container has more than 2,500 five-star reviews on Amazon. Buyers comment that they were pleasantly surprised by how thick and durable the plastic is and several buyers would make Jell-O or pudding the night before and pour it into the bento lunch box to let it sit for the next day. The biggest complaint we found was that the tab will eventually break off the lid. Though, much of the time, the container is still usable.

The best food storage container set on a budget

The Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids Food Storage Containers come in a variety of sets, but we’re going to focus on the most popular option, the 42-piece, red-lidded set. What sets these containers apart is that the lids attach to the bottom of the base for storage. Stacking both lids and containers is a breeze.

The 42 set comes with two 7-cup, two 5-cup, two 3-cup, five 2-cup, five 1.25-cup, and five 0.5-cup bases. Rubbermaid states that the containers are freezer, dishwasher, and microwave safe, though you will see below that the microwave safety of this product is questionable. The set comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Your Better Kitchen has been using the Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids for three years, and the reviewer reports that the lids store easily inside of each other, don't crack in the freezer, and don't absorb food flavors. Reviewed rated this product the best plastic set because it can handle being dropped and will not leak unless you shake it violently. However, the reviewers found that when they microwaved tofu inside the container, there was a slight plastic odor produced.

This Rubbermaid set has more than 7,600 five-star reviews on Amazon. For the most part, buyers are happy with how these holders work for how inexpensive they are. Yet, there are several comments about the containers having problems in the microwave. One reviewer complained about it melting in the microwave after just 30 seconds, but this was not a common experience (and the person was not a verified purchaser). More often, the heated food would scald the interior of the base and leave permanent markings.

Lock & Lock bent the hinges 1,000,000 times with a flexing test machine to ensure that they wouldn't break. This container comes in three sizes: 64 ounces, 132 ounces, and 169 ounces. Each is stackable, watertight, airtight, and microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe.

There are not many expert reviews of the Lock & Lock Airtight Rectangular containers. Cook’s Illustrated recommended this container because of the secure seal and sturdy build. The reviewers put it through its paces, including dishwashing the container 50 times, and they found that the seal only improved. During the submersion test, though, they found that it leaked a few drops. They also found the deep, tall shape to be less practical and noticed some staining when microwaving chili in it. Overall, they were impressed with the durability.

Around 88% of the people who reviewed it on Amazon gave the container a four- or five-star rating. Buyers were impressed with how well this container keeps bread fresh and soft well past the use-by date. They liked how it seals well, stacks easily, and looks good in the pantry.

The biggest complaint is that a loaf of specialty (non-Pullman) sandwich bread will not fit in the 64-ounce, small-sized container (despite Lock & Lock’s marketing photos.)

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